Improvement in attaching book-supports to arm-chairs



F. P. MUSSER.

ATTACHIN'GBOOK-SUPPORTS o ARM-CHAIRS.

Patented Dec. 28, 1875.

NJUE-RS. PHQTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGION. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICEC FRANK P. MUSSER, OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN ATTACHING BOOK-SUPPORTS TO ARM-CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [71,528, dated December 28, 1875; application filed October 13, 1875.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK P. MUssER, of Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Reading and Writing Desks Attachable to Arm-Chairs, of which the'following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 illustrates my improvement as applied to an arm-chair, and in position for use. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the desk, sliding board, and slotted hinged piece, in which said board is arranged to slide; and Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of the same, respectively illustrating the desk and sliding board in horizontal and vertical positions.

' The object of my invention is to construct and connect with an arm-chair a desk, and sup port therefor, which shall be capable of being brought into the various convenient positions hereinafter specified, and in the manner set forth; and to this end it consists in a hinged slotted piece, having a sliding board carrying an adjustable desk and brace connected therewith, and constructed to operate as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

A represents a solid piece of wood, its shape and length conforming to the arm of the chair, to the under side of which arm it is hinged, so that when turned upward its side bears against the outer side of the arm, and its top is flush with it. A longitudinalslot, a, extends in the middle of the piece A, and runs parallel with its external form from the front to the rear end, and when raised up so as to be flush with the arm, the piece A is supported in that position by the brace B, which brace is pivoted in a projection on the outside of the piece A, and rests upon the upper round b in the side of the chair. The braceB is provided with a shoulder, c, at its lower end, and cannot be moved outward from its support, but slides inward under the chair when the desk is to be let down.

I claim no particular form for the desk D, which is hinged to a shoulder or rabbet on top of the movable board E, so that when lying down it forms a level surface with the board E, interrupted only by the bead d at the lower edge of the desk. In this position the desk is best adapted for writing, or it may be used as a table for other purposes. At the outer edge of the board E, as shown in the drawing, is hinged a brace, F, for the support of the desk D when raised up, so as to form an angle with the surface of the board E, in which position it is changed into a reading-desk, and the bead d serves to support books or papers. A bolt passing through the inner edge of the board E, and through the slot at, holds the board and desk on top of the piece A, which board may be pushed back or forward, or turned horizontally in any desired direction, so as to place the desk either in front or at the side of the person occupying the chair. If not wanted, the desk may be let down and removed out of the way by simply pushing the brace B from its support I), when the desk will remain suspended alongside the chair, ready'to be drawn up again when wanted.

Having thus described my invention, I claim I The hinged piece A, provided with a slot, at, in combination with the sliding board E, desk D, and brace F, substantially as set forth and specified.

FRANK P. MUSSER.

Witnesses:

O. D. LEvIs, W. A. (JoNKLIN. 

